Title: Egypt Prevents Mass Exodus from Gaza Amidst Israeli Bombardment
Date: October 10, 2023
Cairo/Gaza – In response to Israeli bombardment, Egypt has taken measures to prevent a mass exodus from the Gaza Strip into the Sinai Peninsula. The main exit point from the Palestinian enclave, Rafah crossing, has been halted, leading to concerns about a potential displacement crisis, according to Gaza officials and Egyptian security sources.
Egypt, being alarmed by Israel’s assault on Gaza, has urged the Israeli government to ensure safe passage for civilians instead of pushing them west towards Sinai. Egyptian security sources have revealed that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi referred to the escalation in Gaza as “highly dangerous” and emphasized that Egypt is actively pursuing a negotiated solution with the involvement of regional and international partners.
Sisi further stated that Egypt would not allow the displacement issue to negatively impact others, insinuating the potential risk that Palestinians might be forced into Sinai. In response, the Egyptian military has stationed troops near the border and initiated patrols to monitor the area, as confirmed by Ahmed Salem of the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights.
Rafah crossing serves as the only possible gateway into Sinai for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. With the sea surrounding the rest of the densely populated strip and Israel imposing a total siege on Gaza, which could lead to a ground offensive, the crossing’s closure poses significant challenges for the people in Gaza.
Since 2007, the movement of individuals and goods in and out of Gaza has been strictly controlled under a blockade enforced by Egypt and Israel. The Israeli military revised its recommendation on Tuesday, advising Palestinians fleeing their air strikes in Gaza not to head towards Egypt.
Egypt, having previously played a mediation role between Israel and Palestinian factions during past conflicts in Gaza, has been keen on preventing further escalation in the present fighting. However, the recent bombardments from Israel have affected both the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing and the Egyptian side, resulting in the closure of the border.
So far, there have been no signs of mass gatherings of Palestinians at the Rafah crossing. Scheduled departures are still proceeding, according to sources. Nevertheless, the situation remains a concern for Egypt due to security issues in the Sinai region, where an Islamist insurgency flared up a decade ago.
In an effort to manage potential crises resulting from events in Gaza, North Sinai’s governor has met with local authorities. Egypt’s military has exerted control over northern Sinai in recent years, managing sporadic attacks. However, as the conflict around Gaza intensifies, thousands of Israeli tourists have returned home, impacting tourism in southern Sinai.
In conclusion, Egypt is making efforts to avoid a mass exodus from Gaza into Sinai. As the security situation continues to be of concern, Egypt is working towards a negotiated solution to the violence with the involvement of regional and international partners.
[Author Bio: A senior correspondent with nearly 25 years’ experience covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including several wars and the signing of the first historic peace accord between the two sides.]
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Disclaimer: This article is based on Reuters’ reporting by Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Yusri Mohamed, and Nidal al-Mughrabi, supplemented with additional reporting by Nadine Awadalla, Ahmed Eliman, Aidan Lewis, and Mai Shams Eldin. The writing is solely by Aidan Lewis, with editing by Alison Williams, Gareth Jones, Susan Fenton, and Nick Macfie. The trust principles of Thomson Reuters apply.
Source: Reuters